Maverick Sabre is the latest artist to pay tribute to the phenomenal legacy of UK music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, who died yesterday morning, aged 31.

According to a statement from his mother, Loose Women star Brenda Edwards, he passed away following "a sudden illness."

Edwards rose to prominence as the founder of SB.TV – a hugely popular platform that originally focused on UK hip-hop and grime artists, and went on to showcase the talents of Maverick Sabre, Skepta, Dave, Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, and Jessie J early on in their careers. He received an MBE for services to music in 2014

Maverick was first featured on the platform in November 2009, performing 'They Found Him A Gun'.

The following year, Maverick returned to perform 'I Need' for SB.TV's A64 series. In the description of the video, Edwards reflected: "I first met Maverick Sabre in November 2009 & we filmed the first ever acoustic kinda thing for SB.TV way before I started A64 & it's only fair if he comes back and jumps on the official A64 series..."

He would go on to feature on the platform on numerous other occasions over the years.

Taking to Instagram today, Maverick has shared his reflections on the supportive role Edwards played in his career.

"You were one of the very rare people in music that helped [o]ut artists on and asked for nothing in return," he remarks. "You were at the beginning of the majority of our careers and throughout. A real one in the truest sense. You came to Finsbury Park and filmed ‘ I Need’ on a street corner when I was 18 and unsigned. Flew to Vegas when I shot my first video, made ‘They Found him a gun’ connect with people from filming on Camden canal before my first headline show…I have too many moments to thank you for. So do many of us. Your impact will live forever. We appreciate you brother. Rest easy."

 

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Read more tributes to Jamal Edwards here, and revisit our recent interview with Maverick Sabre here.